Fractionating apparatus



Mgf?, 1929. E R RLSDON 1,711,656

FRAGTION'ATING APPARATUS Fil-ed Angl 21, 1924 s sheets-sheet s Patented' May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' EAYETTE 1. msn'oN, O E HOUSTON, TExAs, AssIGNoE, EY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE TEXAS COMPANY, or NEW Yonx.' N. Y., A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE.

FRACTLONATING AEPABATUS.

Application led August 21, 1924. Serial No. 733,265.

This invention relates to rectifying or fractionating apparatus and more particularl to rectifying towers or columns of the bub le tower type.

The apparatus of my invention is well adapted for use in connection with the well known heat and pressure method of cracking hydrocarbon oils, in which pressure is maintained through the separating and fractionating apparatus. The invention is, however,

byx no means limited to pressure cracking operations and is in fact applicable to crude distillation or other distilling Operations, to gasoline stabilization processes and for various purposes both within and outside of the oil and as industry, as will -readily be apparent iom the detailed description of the invention contained herein. p

One object of the invention is to provide a bubble tower or rectifying or fractionating column in which the shell or drum may be a unitary structure made in one piece or permanentl built up of welded or riveted plate, thus ma `ng it suitable for use Vunder high pressure.

Another object is to provide a sectional or adjustable type of ractionating equipment so that theapparatus may be readilyaccom-- modated to varying requirements, while at the same time retaining a unitary construction for the shell of the column or tower so that it will be adapted for use under high pressures. In the furtherance of this object my invention contemplates a plurality of nests or sections of bubble trays, each section comprising a plurality of trays. The several trays are arranged to be readily removable from the apparatus so that the same may be adjusted to the particular requirements de- 40 sired.

' A further object is to provide a compact rugged interior construction which shall be composed ofreadily removable parts adapted to be manufactured in large quantities and to be quickly assembled within a one piece shell of the type above indicated.

, Other Objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter brought out and willA be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments of .my invention which are included for the purposens of illustration.

In the drawings l Flgure 1 is a sectional elevation of a bubble tower` constructed in accordance with the invention and constituting an embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section showin a portion of the bubble tower taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Y

Figure 4 is a section in detail taken on line 1f-4 of Fig. 2 showing a method of securing the bubble caps in the upper trays.

Figure 5 isa section of a bubble cap.

In the drawings 10 represents a shell, which may be composed of one piece of metal or is made up of a number of plates welded or rlveted together to form a Asingle unitary struct-ure. 11 designatesthe vapor line which enters at' the lower end of the tower and 12 represents the vapor line -for the removal of vapors or' gases from the tower. 13 is a pipe or connection for drawing oil' condenl sate orl liquid that accumulates in the bot tom of the column. It is convenient to prov ide a gauge such as 14 for indicating the llquid level'therein. The tower may also be equipped with a suitablemeans for supplying a reflux liquid thereto and such other accessories as may be desired, which it is unnecessary to describe herein.

' A plurality of nests or sections of bubble trays 15 are suitably mounted within the tower. Each nest is supported on Va flange 16, which isv suitably riveted or Welded to the shell 10. The several trays of each nest are positioned one` above the other in a manner that is hereinafter more fully described. Spaced manways 17 are provided adjacent the several nests so that convenient access may be had to the several'trays for the purposes of cleaning, inspection, renewal, etc.

As more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, each of the several bubble trays 15 is composed of a plurality of sections such as 15, 15", 15c and'15d. The contiguous edges of the several sections are formed with ribs 19 which not only serve to strengthen the trays but provide means for firmly securin the several sections together as by means ogbolts 18. The several sections have arcuate fla es 20 which, when the sections are assemb ed together, form a complete annular flange or n rim. This rim extends upwardly a suliicient distance to clear the bubble caps, 'which Vwill presently be described, and also preferably extends-slightly below the base of the tray. "The to and bottom edges of the rim are prefera ly machined so as to permit a perfect nestingof the trays when assembled within the tower and so as to form lluid tight joints between the several sections. It is also advantageous to machine the contiguous edges of the adjoining flanges 19 so that when the any of the trays, access maybe had to any ofthe severa-l nests so that it is possible to remove certain of the trays and make replacements without having to disturb the other trays.

Each tray is provided with one or more nipples or connections 28 which serve to re- Y llux liquid from one tray to another. The height of these reflux lines determines the liquid levels in the trays; Each pipe extends from one tray to the adjacent tray underneath to a point below the normal liquid level therein. The nipples 28 may be constructed integrally with the trays or they may, as illustrated, be separable. In the arrangement shown each pipe 28 is-formed with a ange 29by which the pipe is seated on a cooperating flange 30 formed in the base of the bubble tray and to which it .may be secured as by means of bolts 31. I have shown each bubble tray as being equipped with one reflux pipe, but it is'to be understood that if desired, more than one may be employed. Whatever the number used it is preferable v to provide the pipes of adjacent trays in stag- .tul

gered relation to each other so as to secure liquid.'

The reflux pipes from the bottom trays of the several nests are preferably made with a Ubend 32 so as to form a liquid seal therein.

Ifv desired, instead of employing a U pipe, each pipe from the bottom tray of a nest may depend into a pocket or gutter suitably mounted within the shell 10. Provision may be made for withdrawing the liquid from the fractionating tower, at various points therein, such as at. the bottom of each nest or section ofbubble trays, or all of the liquid may be allowed to descend through the tower to the bottom thereof.l v

Each tray is provided with a plurality of -risers2'1 which constitute conduits' for the be interof the downflowing of distilling 23- which rest on the bottom of the tray and with interior ribs 24 by which each cap may be seated on the top of a riser 21.

An important feature in the construction of the caps illustrated is the provision of lugs or fingers 25, which prevent the caps from being blown off their seats. It is apparent that any suddenl increase in the pressure of the upwardly rising gases cannot force the caps ofi' their seats, since the lugs or. fingers 25 come in contact with the bottom of the superposed4 bubble tray. In order to retain in p0- sition the bubble caps of the top trays of each nest or section of trays, suitable cross bars 26 may be provided as clearly shown in Figure 2, and as indicated in Figure 4 the bars may be secured by means of suitable wire or binder 27A to pins or bolts 18 fixed to the ribs or flanges 19.

Apparatus of preferred form and construction has been illustrated and described for the purpose of showing the way in which this invention may be practiced, butthe inventive thought upon which this application is based isfbroader than the illustrative embodiment thereof, and no limitations are intended other than those imposed by the appended claims.

. What I claim is: i

1. A bubble tray for a fractionating or rectifying apparatus formed of a plurality of sections having-contiguous ribs by which saidv sections may be secured, and provided with arcuate ribs which when the several sections are united constitute a peripheral rim for the tray.

2. Apparatus for fractionating or rectifying fluids comprising a chamber, a plurality pans mounted therein, means for refluxing llquid from pan to pan, risers in said pans for conducting vapors thereinto, bubble caps loosely mounted over said risers and means for limiting the movement of said bubble caps. y y

3. Apparatus for fractionating or rectifying fluids comprising a chamber, a plurality of distilling pans mounted therein, means for relluxing liquid from pan to pan, risers in said pans for conducting vapors thereinto, and bubble caps formed with upwardly exed over said risers.

4. Apparatus for fractionating and rectifying'luids comprising a unitary shell, a plurality of spaced fianges formed in the interior of said shell, a manway positioned above each of said flanges, a nest of bubble trays mounted upon each of said flanges, each of said nests formed of detachable elements 'of a size capable of' being inserted through said manvvays.

5. A bubble cap for a fractionating apparatus comprising a hollow member' having an open bottom formed With serrated edges, and provided With legs extending beyond said edges and provided at the top With an upwardly extending lug. ,x

6. Apparatus for fractionating or rectifying fluids comprising a vertically disposed unitary shell formed With a plurality of -Ver tically spaced manways and vertically spaced interior flanges, andnests of bubble trays mounted on said flanges, said nests being made up of a plurality of individual trays loosely stacked upon the several flanges.

7. Apparatus for fractionating or rectifying fluids comprising a Shell, a plurality of.

spaced flanges disposed ,interiorly of said shell, nests of bubble trays formed With loosely mounted bubble caps and supported on said flanges, the trays of each nest being superposed one above the other and each bottom tray of which rests on one of said flanges, and means for securing the bubble caps of the top tray of each nest.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of August, 1924. f

FAYETTE P. RISDON. 

